Funeral services for Mary Wurster, age 88, of Lenox, who died Sunday, May 15, 2011 at the Lenox Care Center will be held Thursday, May 19, 2011 at 10:30 a.m. at the Lenox Christian Church. Visitation will be Wednesday at the Ritchie Funeral Home in Lenox from 3 to 7 with the family greeting friends from 5 to 7. Interment will be held at West Fairview Cemetery in Lenox.

Mary Elizabeth Holmes Wurster was born September 16, 1922 the daughter of Joseph Henry Holmes and Mary Elizabeth (Troxel) Holmes in Gallatin, Missouri. She moved to Lenox, Iowa with her parents at the age of 14. She attended schools in Missouri and Lenox, Iowa.

She was united in marriage to Clifford L. Wurster on April 26, 1941 in Maryville, Missouri. To this union two sons, Gary Lee and Harold Dean were born.

Mary was a devoted wife and mother. She and Clifford farmed the family farm west of Lenox for 35 years before retiring and moving to Lenox in 1976. She was happiest in the kitchen cooking and baking her many pies for family, friends and anyone that wanted a pie. She and Clifford loved to dance and play cards. Mary had a love for music – she could listen to a song and then play it by ear. She was well known for her yodeling.

She spent many hours watching her favorite baseball team the Chicago Cubs.

Mary was a member of the Lenox Christian Church since the age of 16. On many occasions she could be found in the church kitchen helping with dinners and potlucks.

Survivors include her son Gary Wurster and his wife Marilyn of Canyon Lake, Texas; two grandsons Scot and wife Diana of Spring, Texas; and Kelly and wife Mary of Henderson, Nevada as well as three great-grandchildren Michael, Madeline, and Matthew. She is also survived by one brother-in-law Charlie Aigaki, one sister-in-law Ruth Reynolds and many nieces and nephews.

Mary was preceded in death by her husband Clifford in 1983, son Harold in 1967, her parents, three brothers and three sisters

Services for James Poore age 67, of St. Joseph, Missouri, formerly of the Bedford/Clarinda, Iowa area, who entered into peace Saturday, May 14, 2011 at Heartland Regional Medical Center, St. Joseph, Missouri, will be held 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, May 18, 2011 at Platteville Cemetery, Platteville, Iowa. Visitation with the family will be held 9:00 a.m.-10:30 a.m. at Ritchie Funeral Home, Bedford, Iowa. Burial with military rites by John F. Hardin Post #165 will be in the Platteville Cemetery, Platteville, Iowa. Memorials may be given in Jim’s name. Memories and condolences may be shared with the family on our website at, www.ritchiefuneralhome.com under Obituaries. Arrangements were entrusted to the Ritchie Funeral Home of Clarinda, Iowa.

James Edward Poore was born September 2, 1943, in Taylor County, Iowa to Ward Edward Poore and Yvonne Elizabeth (Blane) Poore. Jim and his six siblings grew up on a farm eight miles east of Bedford in the Platteville area. He was a graduate of Bedford High School. Jim joined the United States Army when he was seventeen, spending some of his tour in Germany.

Jim worked on a dairy farm in the Lamoni area before moving to Clarinda where he worked on the Clarinda Police Force for a number of years. In the early 1970’s, he moved to Des Moines working as a manager for Clark Oil. He returned to Southwest Iowa for a time before moving to Illinois working as a district manager overseeing numerous gas stations. Jim also owned a pawn shop and currently was living in St. Joseph, Missouri.

Jim was a man of faith; he was active in his church in Nevada. He had a great sense of humor and liked to play jokes on people. He loved his animals and had a soft spot for his dogs, Joker and Molly. He enjoyed being outdoors and spending time on his acreage enjoying nature.

Preceding Jim in death were his parents and brother, Stephen Poore.

Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Carol Poore of St. Joseph, Missouri; sons, Jon Poore and wife Linda of Clarinda, Iowa and Jeff Poore of Arkansas; grandchildren, Brett, Blake, Lindsey, Brianna, and Jacob; siblings, Dora Prather and husband Paul of Clarinda, Iowa, David Poore and wife Diane of Bedford, Iowa, Roger Poore and wife Debbie of Clarinda, Iowa, Richard Poore and wife Sherry of Arizona, Sara Robinson and husband Don of Clarinda, Iowa; nieces; nephews and many friends

019Edith Lavonne Weller was born November 20, 1931 in Clearfield, Iowa, the daughter of Harvey and Louise (Shaffer) French. She passed away on Monday evening, May 23, 2011 at the Shenandoah Medical Center in Shenandoah, Iowa at the age of 79 years, 6 months and 3 days.

Lavonne grew up in Taylor County and graduated from Bedford High School in 1950. She later attended business school at AIB in Des Moines, Iowa. On January 4, 1953, Lavonne was united in marriage to Howard Weller at the First Baptist Church in Bedford. This union was blessed with three children, Bill, Bonnie & Nancy.

Lavonne worked as a clerk at both Olson Pharmacy and Travis Pharmacy for many years. She was an active member of the First United Presbyterian Church in Shenandoah where she and Howard both served on the board of Deacons. She was a member of the Order of Eastern Star and was an active member of the American Legion Auxiliary. She enjoyed her coffee group in the mornings and embroidering. She had a love for country western and blue grass music. She and Howard were also active square dancers for many years.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her son, Bill Weller; daughter-in-law, Connie Weller; brothers, JB, Bill and Paul French; sisters-in-law, Nadine and Fern French and Mary Ellen Lewellen; and a brother-in-law, Dale Lewellen.

Survivors include her husband, Howard Weller of Shenandoah, Iowa; her children, Bonnie Allely and her husband Denny of Shenandoah, Iowa, Nancy Weller of Shenandoah, Iowa; four grandchildren, Billy Weller and his wife LaTisha of Alabama, Mathew Weller of Alabama, Alisha Weller of Sioux City, Iowa; Brett Allely of Shenandoah, Iowa; two great grandchildren, Judson and Hampton Weller; a sister, Joanne Perdew and her husband Robert of Gravity, Iowa; two brothers, Ed French and his wife Bethel of Bedford, Iowa, Roy French and his wife Joyce of Bedford, Iowa; brother-in-law, Dean Weller and his wife Betty of Bedford, Iowa; sister-in-law, Elenora French of Bedford, Iowa; along with many other relatives and friends

Funeral services for Gordon Sickels, age 89 of Bedford, who died Thursday, May 26, 2011 at the Bedford Nursing & Rehab Center will be held Tuesday, May 31, 2011 at 10:30 a.m. at the New Life Missionary Church in Bedford. Visitation was held at the Ritchie Funeral Home on Monday from 3 to 7 with the family greeting friends from 5 to 7. Interment will be held in the Fairview Cemetery in Bedford.

Gordon Sickels was born July 20, 1921 in Athelstan, Iowa the son of Glenn Sickels and Zelda (Freemeyer) Sickels. Gordon was raised on a farm north of Athelstan attending Works Country School through the eighth grade. He then attended Athelstan High School, graduating on May 9, 1940. He was always very proud of the fact he was “second high” in this class . . . .of course, there were only two students in his class . . . .he and Betty (Balch) Houchin. After graduation, he continued farming with his dad and brother when World War II began. With only one of the brother’s being able to enlist (because one had to stay home on the farm) Gordon, being the youngest, remained home. Gordon loved all outdoor activities: baseball, horseback riding, sledding, ice skating, fishing, along with bow and gun hunting. Most of these activities were with his neighbors up the road, Paul, Albert and Ida May King. On July 17, 1943, he married that neighbor girl, Ida May King. The couple lived west of Athelstan where he continued farming. To this loving marriage three daughters were born: Judith, Linda and Sharon. While farming, Gordon also drove a school bus for the Bedford Community School District when the county reorganized to include Bedford, Blockton, Athelstan, Conway and Gravity.

In 1962, the family moved from the farm into the Bedford Community. He worked at the Skylark Service Station, for Bob Bonar at Bedford Gas installing and servicing furnaces, Skelly Service Station for Virgil Livingston. He was in partnership with Virgil at the Skelly Service Station and later took over sole ownership. In 1976, he sold the station and went back to farming for his son-in-law and daughter, Jerry and Judy King of Blockton. He did part-time carpentry work in his home workshop. He and Ida May enjoyed traveling in their RV’s. Together they saw many sights in many states throughout the country. They enjoyed taking many photos along the way. Gordon and Ida May spent some of their later years during the winter months in Arizona. Over the years, Gordon enjoyed starting each day with his “coffee buddies” at various cafes in Bedford. He enjoyed bowling, receiving many trophies along the way. Gordon especially enjoyed golfing every chance he could with his friends and ‘seniors’. In fact, one year he and his friends golfed all twelve months! During the winter they even drilled holes in frozen ground for their tees!

Left to cherish the memory of this loving father and friend are his three daughters, Judith Ann King and husband Jerry of Blockton; Linda Eileen McClannahan and husband Paul of Des Moines; and Sharon Lea Davison and husband Roger of Bedford; six grandchildren, Jason King and wife Sara of Blockton; Kristie Searl and husband Allan of Clarinda; David McClannahan and wife Brenda of Indianola; Heather Schager and husband Matt of Des Moines; Todd Davison and wife Sandra of Hopkins, Missouri; Tim Davison and wife Teresa of Fontanelle; twelve great-grandchildren, Courtney, Joel, Quentin, Brody, Colton, Colby, Desirae, Gabriel, Amanda, Jared, Alisha and Tanner.

Preceding Gordon in death are his parents, Glenn and Zelda Sickels; his loving wife Ida May in December of 2007; and a brother, Glade Sickels.

Gordon was a ‘family man’.
Nothing pleased him more than bragging about his daughters and grandchildren!
He will be missed by all of his family and friends

Funeral services for Vernal Thompson, age 81, of Lenox, who passed away peacefully on Monday, May 23, 2011 at Greater Regional Hospice House in Creston after a courageous battle with cancer will be held Friday, May 27, 2011 at 10:30 a.m. at the Lenox United Methodist Church. Visitation will be at the Ritchie Funeral Home in Lenox on Thursday, May 26, 2011 from 3 to 7 with the family greeting friends from 5 to 7 and a Masonic Servcie at 7:00 p.m. Interment will be held at North Fairview Cemetery in Lenox. Instead of flowers the family requests memorials be given in Vernal’s name. Memories can be shared with the family at www.ritchiefuneralhome.com under Obituaries. Arrangements were entrusted to the Ritchie Funeral Home of Lenox.

Vernal Joseph Thompson was born December 9, 1929 to George and Pearl Thompson in Wall, South Dakota. He moved to Lenox with his family in December 1941 when he was 12 years old. On Easter Sunday, April 9, 1950 he married Joan Fleming in Lenox.

Vernal retired as a self-employed painter after 50 years. During his retirement, he enjoyed golfing, fishing, and being with his family, especially his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He was a faithful member of the Lenox United Methodist church. Vernal proudly served the Lenox Fire Department 42 years, 15 years of those as chief. He was Civil Defense Director for Lenox helping to create the first disaster recovery plan for Lenox. He was a 50-year member of the Lenox Masonic lodge including serving as worshipful master, and a current member of Taylor County Masonic Lodge #156 in Bedford. He was a past member of the Lenox Rotary club. Vernal worked endlessly to better his church and the Lenox community as a whole.

Vernal will be greatly missed by his loving wife of 61 years Joan; three children, Richard (Genelle) Thompson of Winterset, Cheryl (Jim) Murphy of Ankeny, and Gary (Julia) Thompson of Creston; six grandchildren, Wendy (Jayson) McDonald of Winterset, Will Murphy of Maryville, Mo; Rev Betsy (Zack Koopman) Thompson of Ames, Sarah (James) Beeman of Ankeny, Evan (Tracy) Thompson of Lenox and Mark Thompson of Clive; two step-granddaughters, Shawna Miller of Nashville, TN and Casie Miller of Creston; six great-grandchildren Cole and Megan McDonald; Brooklyn, Isabella, and Greyson Beeman and Cale Thompson; sister Lori Thompson, brothers Dennis (Margaret Jean) Thompson and Roger (Lilly) Thompson.

He was preceded in death by his parents George and Pearl Thompson and grandson, Seth Thompson.

Vernal was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and friend. His love, generosity, and devotedness will be greatly missed by his family, friends, church and community. He will live forever in our hearts